The Beehive Bulletin
York Avenue Family Newsletter - 4/24/22
Message from Mrs. Richardson
Dear York Avenue Families,
Thank you to all who helped make Autism Acceptance Week a success. Students gathered on the blacktop to create the infinity symbol and shared in our efforts to create an inclusive community.
PSSAs for grades 3-6 begin on Monday, April 25th. Please be sure that your child's Chromebook is charged, send in power cords and please be prompt at drop off for students taking PSSAs. See below for more information.
H&S is having Dining Night Out at Rita's Water Ice at 6:00 - 9:00pm on April 27th. Please mention YA and part of your bill will go to our school.
H&S has been working hard to plan the YA May Fair on May 20th from 6:00-8:00pm. They are still in need of volunteers for Tickets & Prizes and Set up/Break Down. Please consider offering your time. You may contact Emily Lukens at emilycaballerolukens@gmail.com. Additionally, collections for raffle baskets are underway. Please see the flier below for donation ideas.
Also, please see the flier below regarding H&S's celebration of our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week!
A few reminders for upcoming events:
- Monday, 4/25 - Day 1
- Tuesday, 4/26 - Day 2
- Wednesday, 4/27 - Day 3- Early Dismissal, 12:35pm
- Thursday, 4/28 - Day 4
- Friday, 4/29 - Day 1- YA Spirit Day
Warmly,
Dipa P. Richardson
Principal
Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6
Please see the flier made by H&S to celebrate our incredible teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. They are looking for some volunteers to help out. Please use this Sign-Up Genius to offer your time or click on the QR code below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054BAFA72DA1FE3-yateacher
Around the World with Literacy and Math Night, May 11
Autism Acceptance Month
Did you know that Autism is diagnosed as much as 4x more frequently in boys than in girls, partially because of a lack of understanding for how symptoms present themselves in females? As a community, let’s use this month to learn more about the characteristics of autism, and use that knowledge to promote kindness and understanding for all types of neurodiversity.
Please take some time this month to explore this page full of resources put together by the NPSD, as we all celebrate Autism Acceptance Month together. There are links to great TED Talks, books, and more educational resources to share with your family.
Ramadan
April also marks the beginning of Ramadan. Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection, and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. During this time, many students in our district will fast during daylight hours in accordance with their religious tradition. The district has put together an amazing page full of resources here, where we can learn more about the celebrations and traditions of Ramadan.
This update has been brought to you by the Parents in Equity Group. If you have a resource that you would love to share, an idea for a display you would like to see brought to life, or input on how our school community can continue to recognize and honor the diverse backgrounds of our students, please reach out to Jenn Svetlik (jennifer.svetlik@gmail.com) and Megan Briggs (mbriggsis@gmail.com), who proudly serve as our school’s Parents in Equity Representatives.
We are always looking for fresh voices and perspectives from parents who are interested in getting more involved with bringing our district’s vision of cultural proficiency to life within each building.
In April and May we are going to be putting up StoryWalks on the fence outside of the school, and could use a few extra hands.
Please email Jenn at jennifer.svetlik@gmail.com about how you can help!
Mid-April Counselor's Corner
Spring has sprung and that means that the PSSA’s are right around the corner. For some, the thought of taking a standardized test can bring up feelings of stress and anxiety. A little bit of pre-test jitters can be a good thing to help with motivation, but if you find that your child is displaying new behaviors or seems more worried than usual, taking a look at the attached links could help to ease their stress. Remember- all we can ask of our students is to give their best effort and show what they already know!
As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Take care.
Becky Murray
215-368-6002 x1688
Please Note: PSSA Dates
Students in grades 3rd -6th will be taking PSSA state assessments in April and May. Please see the dates of testing to avoid students being absent. Make-up tests run until May 13th.
ELA: April 25, 26, 29
Section 1 - Monday, April 25
Section 2 - Tuesday, April 26
Section 3 - Friday, April 29
MATH: May 2, May 4
Section 1 - Monday, May 2
Section 2 - Wednesday, May 4
SCIENCE: May 9, May 10 (Grade 4 only)
Section 1 - Monday, May 9
Section 2 - Tuesday, May 10
PSSA Testing Times:
Grade 3: 10:10-12:45
Grade 4: 9:20-11:35
Grade 5: 9:20-11:55
Grade 6: 10:10-1:00
Cellphones/Smartwatches
In addition, please be aware that students are not permitted to have electronic devices on their persons during the assessment. This includes smartwatches. All devices will be collected prior to the test if they have brought them in. Below you will find the electronic device expectation. Electronic Devices Notification Letter
Chromebooks
Students will continue to bring their Chromebooks back and forth to school. We ask that you ensure students are charging their devices overnight and bring their chargers with them each day.
FAQ
Lastly, many families have questions regarding the assessment. The state of Pennsylvania has provided a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document for families. Please take a moment to read it. FAQ for the PSSA
Kindergarten Registration
We are excited to announce that Kindergarten Registration for the 2022-2023 school year will begin on February 1st. All Kindergarten registrations can be completed online through the district website. Please use this link to begin the registration process. On the district website, you will also find additional information about Kindergarten. If you have any questions regarding Kindergarten registration, feel free to contact the main office.
April Lunch Menu
Please be sure to review the options with your child. They will tell their teacher their choice each morning.
Home & School Meeting News
One topic discussed was safety. The safety of the community is the most important goal during drop-off and pick-up. We all have a responsibility to see that every child is safe. In addition, we need to keep traffic moving to facilitate student arrival and dismissal in a timely way. It is imperative that the procedures below are observed.
Another topic of discussion was the need for volunteers. YA Home & School Association has many ideas for spring events. Please consider taking the lead or joining a group to help these ideas come to fruition. We appreciate any availability you may have. To get involved, please send an email to yahomeandschool@gmail.com.
Crossing Guards Needed
News from Home & School
Supporting students and staff is the heart of what we do. There is always room for more VOLUNTEERS! Please reach out to yahomeandschool@gmail.com to learn more or click here to sign up.
You can also connect on Facebook @ York Avenue Elementary Home & School
For more information, please reach out to the 2021-22 H&S Board.
President
John Benedix
610-937-9635
Vice President
Tony Di Domizio
267-640-6636
Treasurer
Meredith Kim
215-313-7476
Secretary
Michelle Hynes
215-589-3699
More Ways to Support York Avenue
AMAZONSMILE
Direct your charity dollars via AmazonSmile!
SHOPRITE FOR MY SCHOOL PROGRAM
Do you shop at ShopRite? Have family members that shop there? Sign your rewards card up at the link below and pick York Ave Elem and we will automatically be credited for any Box Top rewards that are purchased. EASY!!!
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION APP
Box Tops has gone digital-- click for info! Link the app to York Avenue Elementary. Scan a store receipt within 14 days of purchase, the app will identify products on the receipt and credit York Avenue's earnings online. YA will receive a check twice a year to be used toward whatever we need.
Can you help reach this year's goal of $1,000?
York Avenue Elementary School
Email: richardp@npenn.org
Website: https://york.npenn.org/
Location: 700 York Avenue, Lansdale, PA, 19446
Phone: 215-368-6002